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MG MGF Technical - Poly bushes breaking up

Discovered that my car is eating Powerflex bushes 8-( The rear ARB drop link bushes are the worst victims, they've lost their 'shoulder' between the drop link and the ARB which allows the drop link to slop around, which in turn has started to break up the shoulder on the other side. Pictures have been sent to Powerflex and they're suggesting that they need to make these from a stronger material. I agree...

If you have these bushes fitted it might be worth checking they're still intact. I believe the lower suspension arm to hub bush needs to be stronger too, when fitting them I found the shoulder being squeezed out where the two faces are not exactly square to each other, again due to the shoulder splitting away from the rest of the bush.

While I have the ear of Powerflex (thanks to Bill & Victoria for chivvying them), anyone have anything else to raise with them?

Mike Hankin

I will get mine checked Mike

I had Powerflex bushes fitted all around about 3 years ago the same time Techspeed done the suspension mods on my F

I haven't had any problems to date and have covered about 80000 Miles since they were fitted.

Stu
Stu Dickens

Very interesting, thanks Mike. I wonder how the material stiffness compares to the standard steel reinforced rubber bushes? One of the comments made by Alan on MGF10 sticks in my mind: they found that the standard wishbone bushes for the ZS were a good deal stiffer than PU alternatives...!
Rob Bell

Rob, that's interesting... Whilst the poly material is good for keeping two mating surfaces apart firmly without increasing the NVH, the properties of reinforced rubber would make it more durable in some of the stress points. Having said that, the Cup cars don't seem to have a problem with Powerflex bushes disintegrating. Unless they have different drop links?

I think I'll stick with the poly bushes though, they pay for themselves by keeping the geometry fairly intact if I overstep my abilities on track ;o)

Run in the new firebreathing motor yet Stu?
Mike Hankin


Not yet Mike

Cars actually at Techspeed now being checked over

Looking forward to being able to let those extra wild horses loose though !!

I'm will mention to Techspeed about the polyflex bushes so they can check them over whilst its there

Stu
Stu Dickens

Mike, the Cup Cars actually do run quite different suspension (check out the design of the rear tie bar, for example). Chances are, the PU bushes used in these cars are quite different to the ones bought over the counter at Superflex etc.

But there have been far too many positive comments from MGF'ers after fitting PU bushes for them to be any softer than standard - so I think your decision is right - keep with the PU's, and hopefully Powerflex will be able to sort yours out. :o)
Rob Bell

This thread was discussed between 03/11/2005 and 04/11/2005

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